FIFA World Cup 2014 Kicks off with Opening Ceremony in Pictures

The Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup has begun, with the hosts Brazil playing against Croatia in the Group A opener, the first of 64 games in a month-long football festival.

Earlier in Sao Paulo, a football-style carnival kicked off in Itaquerao Stadium. The field was covered in multi-colored rays for the opening ceremony. During the 25-minute event, 660 artists paid tribute to the country’s nature, people and football. A standing paraplegic man kicked the first soccer ball of the World Cup, a triumphant moment for a research project aiming to give patients who have lost feeling in their legs the ability to walk again.

Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian pop singer Claudia Leitte gesture as they take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The year’s World Cup anthem "We Are One" was sung by American rapper Pitbull, pop star Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian pop sensation Claudia Leitte. More than 60,000 fans were in the stadium to watch the performances.

Pitbull takes part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.

Jennifer Lopez waves to fans after performing during the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA football World Cup.

Claudia Leitte gesture as they take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA football World Cup at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.

(AFP Photo)